Identity - Who Am I?
Intro:
• What is my self-image, self worth, my identity based on?
• In short, too often we have to ask:
Who Am I?
• Christians contend that the fundamental expression of our identity is found in being made as image bearers of God.
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
• Let’s break this into three parts.
“Let Us”
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
• Discovering that God is in community: Father, Son & Spirit.
• So are we. Note how we describe ourselves:
o When you meet someone, we share basic facts about ourselves. Name, job, where I’m from, my family, maybe hobbies or interests.
o Notice we begin with “I” on all of those. They are identifiers.
o I am a father, husband, pastor. All about me, but in context of relationships.
o Without our relationships, we lack identity.
• We were made for community.
Acts 2:44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
• From the very beginning, we were made to have a full and biblical identity among a group of people who share a love for God and others.
“Our Image”
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
• What does it mean to be made in God’s image? Clearly, it’s not referring to our physical nature. God is spirit (Jn. 4:24).
• Lots of debate about this but here’s what we can say we uniquely share with God:
We Are Creative
• We’re studying the very foundation of creative activity by God. He made us to be creative. We create all the time:
• We surround ourselves with art, music, fashion, we consume vast quantities of created work.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
• We reflect God’s image in our creativity.
We Are Aware of Time
• We are all aware of time. All the time. We break time into discrete units like days, weeks, months, years, centuries, etc.
o to keep track of the past, to use our day and to plan our future.
• No other animal is aware of time like human beings.
• As we discussed last week, God put a “stake” in creation with “beginning.” It gave us a starting place. We’ve measured progress throughout creation by time.
• At the same time (see what I did there?) God, who is above and beyond time, made us like him: To long for eternity.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
We Gather For Communal Eating
• Many creatures gather for feeding frenzies. But they’re not like the meals we share as humans.
• None other sets a time for food, sets a table, decorates, etc.
• As you move through the Bible, you’ll see over and over again, that there are lots of meals and they are all spiritually significant.
• Jesus promised the first thing we’ll all do in the new creation is feast! (Lk 14; Matt. 22)
• Jesus also formulated our worship around a meal.
Luke 22:19–20 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
We Use Language
Psalm 139:14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
God’s Image in Our Everyday Life
• When we synthesize all the ways we are like God, we discover that we most reflect Him in our everyday activity.
Deuteronomy 6:6–9 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
• We were designed to live every moment to reflect the nature of God.
“Dominion”
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
• God designed us to rule over creation.
• Not dominate, but dominion.
• Exercise authority, to make a world. It is our divine right and responsibility.
• We have done exactly that: We make art, cities, communities, technology, medicine. All the elements of human creation reflect to some extent the glory and intent of our Creator.
• Unfortunately, as we will see next week, our image-bearing status was damaged by rebellion, sin.
• Now all we make carries a label: a blessing, but cursed.
• Now imagine all that made right, good and whole.
2 Peter 3:13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Conclusion:
• What difference does all this make?
• Remember that you are most like God in the everyday moments of life. Going to the store, driving the kids to school, making dinner, talking with a friend on the phone.
• We already do these things. Let’s take one of these characteristics of God: Time, Language, Art, Meals and make more community out of them. Have dinner with friends. Experience an event with your family. Build or make something with the kids or grandkids. Cook with your family.
• Remember, we are most like God in the everyday moments.
